Relationship among Bacterial Vaginosis, Local Inflammatory Response and Presence of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia in Women with and without Human Papilloma Virus Infection

Copyright © 2012. Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is common, treatable condition, where the normal Döderlein-dominated vaginal flora is replaced by other, predominantly anaerobic flora. Previous studies which have examined the relationship between BV and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) gave conflicting conclusions with different results which ranged from a strong association [1] to no association at all [2]. In the earlier eighties Pavić [3], discussing possible analogies between gastric and cervical cancer, concluded that in both, an elevation of pH could encourage proliferation of bacteria, and those situation could be preceded by epithelial metaplasia and dysplasia. According to him, the nitrosamines, which were form ORIGINAL ARTICLE